The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-31
SCORCHED BY OLD SOL.
The Hottest Day Of the Season-The Signal
Service Thermometer Goes Above 1919.

The Thermometer yesterday marked a temper
allure that has not been equaled for several
years The heat reached an intensity greater
than that of the hottest day two weeks ago. 1t
insufferable. without the least breeze to give
moments relief. People moved about If
existence was a burden and the constant wish
was for signs of rain. Even clouds portending
destructive storms would have been
ceptabe. The overheated population
would have run the risk of cyclone rather
than pass another such day. The weather had
cyclonic features about it. but they did not de-
velop strongly, although the barometer early in
the day began to fall 1t not until noon,
however, that heavy cumulus clouds began to
gather on all the lines of the horizon Yet no
faith was had in them, as for several days
the signs OF possible rain showers have failed,
to be followed on other days by cloudless skies.
Along in the afternoon they began to spread
and darken. while now and then a breeze
would for instant brighten ones feelings and
hopes. After awhile there were several gusts
of wind. but they would die as they came, in a
moment. leaving the atmosphere stufv and al
most intolerable half hour later there was
a slight sprinkIing, just enough to show that
rain was possible. But it had the effect of
bringing the thermometer down a peg two.
All day Indianapolis had been in front of rain
that conferred over the lower part of Lake Michi-
gan with its line extending through Wisconsin.
Iowa and therce into Nebraska and Dakota
1t was tending from Lake Michigan to the south
east, and il was in this horizon that the rain
clouds In tho afternoon became strongly marked
for this locality. No wanted to express a
decided opinion that Indianapolis would get the
full benefit of the clouds. but it
thought that the limit of heat had been
reached. 1t ought to be the limit. for at
time has the government thermometer here
marked so many degrees. AT noon it stood at
96o. and two hours later had advanced to 1912
AT $3.50 o'clock it gained another tenth. Not
since July 10 and Aug. IL. of 1881, has it
been so high. 1t was at this latter hour
that the brsezes began to freshen the air
little, but still the mercury was held
upwards. though within hour, about 5
O'clock the change for the better was very per-
ceptible. The street thermometers went as high
1I0o, but that at Sloan's drug store kept
tenaciously at 1919 until $3.50 o'clock, when it
dropped half degree, and later got down to the
lower nineties. All this time there was rain in
the north, northwest. and south. tie center in
the latter district being in Tennessee.
William Hilbern, living az No. 80 Water street,
was Frustrated in the afternoon at the corner of
South and East streets, and was taken home in
an unconscious condition by Kregelo. Medical
aid was called. but restoratives did not revive
him. and his recovery is considered very doubt
full.
Between and 5 o'clock Andrew Hickman
tainted at the corner of Morris and Meridian
streets. while on his way home from work. He
recovered consciousness soon after medical aid
was called.